Tug-of-war continues for Elsom's services

RUGBY NEWS ROUND-UP:ROCKY ELSOM'S immediate plans remain in the balance, but a decision regarding where he will play next season is likely to be made in the next week. The outstanding 26-year-old Wallabies flanker ideally wants to resume playing for Australia this summer in time for the Tri-Nations, then return for another season with Leinster. But the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) are not disposed towards the idea.

Reports in The Australian newspaper signalling that Elsom is definitely returning to his native country appear premature. Much as he wants to play for Australia as soon as possible, Elsom is also reluctant to leave Leinster, and while a return home – were he forced to choose between the two – remains the likelier outcome, this has not been decided.

This was confirmed by Leinster coach Michael Cheika yesterday, following an hour-long meeting with the player.

“That’s about as accurate as it can be,” the European Cup-winning coach said. “He’s really enjoyed it here. Things will probably unfold over the next week and there are a few things on the move.”

Despite having played for six years with the New South Wales Waratahs, the ACT Brumbies have emerged as the favourites to re-sign Elsom, although their chief executive, Andrew Fagan, maintained: “We are long shots. I’m sure it will begin to take shape over coming days.”

Elsom will be with the Barbarians from Thursday ahead of their game against England on Saturday in Twickenham, and in Australia next week for an encounter with the Wallabies.

The ARU are reluctant to make an exception for Elsom to allow him to play for Australia this summer, a la the NZRFU with Dan Carter, even though he is a rather exceptional case. Australia warm up for the Tri-Nations against Italy and France.

Leinster are also believed to have improved their financial package for Elsom, and ARU high performance manager David Nucifora also admitted that no decision had been confirmed.

“Until these boys decide to put pen to paper, you never really know,” Nucifora said. “We have been working on it for a long time and I have been quite confident for a while because he wants to come back and be a part of Australian rugby.”

Reports suggesting Cheika is being lined up as head coach to a proposed new franchise in Australia may ultimately come to fruition, but that will not come into effect until the year after next. Either way the Leinster coach confirmed he is intent on seeing out the last year of his contract.

“Like I’ve always said, I’ve got many things to do here in terms of moving the team forward and moving the club forward,” said Cheika, “and there’s a lot more we need to do.”

Cheika admitted that all he’s watched of the reruns of the game are the celebrations after the whistle, just to relive his players’ delight. “I’ve watched them every day and have seen how hard they’ve worked for this reward.”

Now he wants to take them on to another level. “In my four years here, if there had been play-offs in the Magners League we would have reached them every season, and we’ve made one quarter, one semi of the Heineken Cup and won one, and now we have a top tier seeding for next season.

“But now we want to strive to break into that top four in Europe, of Munster, Leicester, Toulouse and Wasps, and I suppose when we’ve used squad rotation we’ve come up a bit short sometimes.”

Even so, there will not be mass upheaval in terms of playing personnel over the summer with the new European champions.

Aside from the Toulon-bound Felipe Contepomi, others who will be leaving Leinster now are Chris Whitaker, Brian Blaney, Gary Brown, Cameron Jowitt and Stephen Knoop. Eoin Reddan, from Wasps, has already been recruited for next season, as has another former Munster player, Harlequins prop Mike Ross, and the Bath outhalf cum centre and goalkicker Sean Beirne.

Malcolm O’Kelly is definitely remaining on. “There’s the testimonial and stuff planned,” quipped O’Kelly.

“Both Leinster and myself want me to play for another year. I think Leinster need me for another year, we still need to develop some of our academy players.

“I’m happy to do it. I’m in good form, they look after me well and there’s not as though there’s a huge lot else knocking on the door at the moment, so I’m happy to do it.”